Handbrush and method of manufacture thereof

Abstract

 A handbrush and method for the manufacture thereof, are disclosed. The handbrush comprises a head (12) having a plurality of bristles (14) thereon and handle (16) extending from the head (12). The head (12), the bristles (14) and the handle (16) all being integrally moulded from a polymeric compound such as rubber. A rigid strengthening member (18) may be embedded in the head (12) and the handle (16) and may be bent to impart a desired shape to the brush, e.g. for maintaining the handle (16) at a desired angle to the head (12). The brush may be provided with a substantially longitudinally extending scraper blade (20) which may also be integrally moulded with the head (12), the bristles (14) and the handle (16). In addition, a groove may be provided in the head (12) of the handbrush for receiving and holding an edge of a steel blade for removing ice from the windscreens of motor vehicles or the like.

Description

[0001] THIS INVENTION relates to a handbrush and to a method for the manufacture thereof.

[0002] Various kinds of handbrushes have been used by mankind over many centuries. Still the most commonly known brushes today are those that comprise an elongate head to one end of which is attached a handle, the head comprising a plurality of bristles bound in bundles, each bundle being fixed in a hole provided in the head. The means for fixing could, for instance, include dipping of the bristles in lacquer, pitch or another binding agent and introduction thereof into the holes, or alternatively, by means of staples or the like.

[0003] To be able to market handbrushes at acceptable prices, either low-cost labour or else, capital intensive automatic or semi-automatic machines must be employed, the latter of which produces large numbers of brushes of the aforementioned kind. However, a disadvantage of such conventional brushes comprising separate bristles is that the bristles are often dislodged from the holes in which they are fixed, especially in the case of brushes of which the heads are made of wood, and where such heads are intermittently used with water, causing the head to swell and contract repeatedly. Other brushes exist in which the head and the bristles are made of plastics materials, with the head having a plurality of receptacles for receiving the bundles of bristles. The bristles of such brushes are usually fixed by melting and subsequent solidification of the plastics material of the head around the bristles.

[0004] A need therefore exists for a handbrush and a method for the manufacture thereof, which comprises the minimum number of separate constituent parts.

[0005] A need also exists for a handbrush which can be used not only to brush dry surfaces such as upholstery, carpets, clothing and the like, but also to assist in washing objects such as the exterior painted surfaces of a motor vehicle without scratching, or other sensitive articles such as cutlery, crockery, glassware and the like.

[0006] We have also identified a need for a single tool for brushing dry surfaces, for washing wet surfaces and for removing water from glass surfaces.

[0007] According to the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a handbrush comprising a head, a handle connected to the head and bristles projecting from the head, characterised in that the head, the handle and the bristles are all moulded as one integral piece from a polymeric compound, and in that a rigid strengthening member is embedded in the brush during or after the moulding step.

[0008] Also according to the invention there is provided a handbrush comprising a head, a handle projecting from the head, and a plurality of bristles projecting from the head, characterised in that the head, the bristles and the handle are all integrally moulded in one piece from a polymeric compound, and in that a rigid strengthening member is embedded in the head and the handle.

[0009] The rigid strengthening member may be bent to impart a desired shape to the brush, e.g. for maintaining the handle at a desired angle to the head of the brush. The strengthening member may comprise a steel, preferably a spring steel, rod. Alternatively, it may comprise a rod made of a suitable polymer or of a fibre such as glass fibre, asbestos, or the like.

[0010] The bristles may be circular in cross-section. Preferably, they are tapered in a direction away from the head. Alternatively, they may be substantially cylindrical in shape, optionally with their free edges chamfered.

[0011] The bristles may be arranged in rows. The bristles in one row may be staggered with respect to bristles in adjacent rows. The handbrush may comprise bristles of smaller diameter and bristles of larger diameter, all bristles having substantially the same length. The thinner bristles may be suitable for sweeping smaller dirt particles or dirt particles of smaller individual mass, and by virtue of being thinner, they may promote or facilitate the development of static electricity which in turn may cause the individual bristles to be charged and to attract the or at least some of the dirt particles. The dirt particles may then subsequently be removed by rinsing the handbrush under running water.

[0012] The thicker bristles are preferably of greater rigidity than the thinner bristles and may be suitable for sweeping larger particles or particles of greater individual mass than the thinner bristles.

[0013] To facilitate their cleaning action, the thicker bristles are preferably arranged in first rows whilst the thinner bristles are preferably arranged in second rows. The second rows may alternate with the first rows, and the thicker bristles of one first row may be staggered with respect to the thicker bristles of adjacent first rows. The thinner bristles of adjacent first rows are conveniently not staggered with respect to one another but are arranged opposite one another.

[0014] The head may be elongate in shape and the handle may extend from one end thereof. The head is conveniently provided with a scraper blade, which may also be integrally moulded with the head, the bristles and the handle. The scraper blade may extend longitudinally along one side of the head and may be of suitable thickness so as to facilitate cleaning of glass surfaces such as windows or the like.

[0015] The head may also be provided with a substantially longitudinally extending groove adapted to receive and to hold an edge of a steel blade suitable for removing ice from a motor vehicle's windscreen.

[0016] The handbrush may be made of a suitable polymeric material such as rubber and the composition of the rubber may be determined such that, upon vulcanisation, its hardness as may be expressed by the Shore hardness, is appropriate for use of the handbrush in cleaning (including brushing and washing) different parts of, for instance, motor vehicles. A Shore hardness (as measured on the A scale) of between 55 and 65, preferably around 60 has been found to yield good results. Another important parameter of the handbrush is its elongation at break. As compared to other rubber products, the compound has to be formulated such as to have a rather high yield strength or elongation at break when vulcanised. An elongation at break of between about 550% and about 650% is preferred to yield good results in terms of mouldability and brushing performance. The preferred value for elongation at break is around 600%. For washing purposes, the handbrush may be provided with a cavity in its head, an inlet opening for introducing a washing or waxing aid into the cavity, closure means for closing the inlet opening, and passages interconnecting the cavity with the exterior of the head in the region of the bristles, so that a suitable liquid or solid washing or waxing aid such as a wetting agent, a soap, a detergent, a waxing liquid or the like may be placed in the cavity and applied to a vehicle or the like during washing thereof.

[0017] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is an underneath plan view of one handbrush according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the brush of Figure 1; and

- Figure 3 is a plan view of another handbrush in accordance with the invention.

[0018] In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a handbrush comprising an elongate head 12 with a plurality of bristles 14 thereon and a handle 16 extending from one end of the head 12. The brush 10 comprising the head 12, the bristles 14 and the handle 16, is integrally moulded in one piece, from a rubber compound, formulated such as to provide to the brush the desired hardness, longevity, mouldability and rigidity of the bristles.

[0019] A strengthening member in the form of a spring steel rod 18, which is bent as shown at 18.1, is embedded in the brush 10. The rod 18 serves to impart rigidity to the handle 16 and the head 12 and to maintain the handle 16 at a desired angle with respect to the head 12.

[0020] The handbrush 10 may be used for cleaning (including washing and brushing) upholstery, clothing, carpets, dishes, pets and horses.

[0021] The bristles 14 are of circular cross section and are tapered in a direction away from the head as is shown in Figure 2. The bristles 14 are arranged in rows as can be seen in Figure 1. The bristles in one row are staggered with respect to bristles in adjacent rows. The handbrush 10 could, in other embodiments of the invention, comprise bristles 14 of smaller diameter and bristles 14 of larger diameter, all bristles 14 having substantially the same length. The head 12 is provided with a scraper blade 20 which is also integrally moulded together with the head 12, the bristles 14 and the handle 16. The scraper blade 20 extends longitudinally along one of the long sides of the head 12 and is of a suitable thickness so as to facilitate cleaning of glass surfaces such as windows or the like with its free edge 20.1. The free edge 20.1 is preferably substantially straight.

[0022] The head 12 is also provided with a substantially longitudinally extending groove on its long side opposite the side which is provided with the scraper blade 20. The longitudinally extending groove is adapted to receive and to hold an edge of a steel blade 22 as is shown in Figure 3, suitable for removing ice from a motor vehicle's windscreen.

[0023] The corners 20.2, 20.3 and 22.1, 22.2 of respectively the scraper blade 20 and the steel blade 22 are acute so as to facilitate entry into corners. The angles of the corners 20.2, 20.3 and 22.1, 22.2 are preferably all between 45° and 75°, more preferably around 60°.

[0024] The handbrush is made of a rubber compound, the composition of which is determined such that, upon vulcanisation, its hardness as may be expressed by the Shore hardness, is appropriate for use of the handbrush in cleaning (including brushing and washing) different parts of sensitive surface such as of motor vehicles, whilst still maintaining sufficient rigidity of the bristles 14 and scraper blade 20 to satisfactorily perform the functions of a brush. It is also of specific importance that care should be taken that the hardness of the handbrush is not so much as to be likely to damage the paint work of motor vehicles.

[0025] For washing purposes, the handbrush 10 is provided with a cavity 24 in the head 12, an inlet opening 26 for introducing a washing or waxing aid into the cavity 24, closure means (not shown) for closing the inlet opening, and passages interconnecting the cavity 24 with the exterior of the head in the region of the bristles 14, so that a suitable liquid or solid washing or waxing aid such as a wetting agent, a soap, a detergent, a waxing liquid or the like may be placed in the cavity and applied to a vehicle, animal or other object or article during washing thereof.

[0026] The claims which follow are to be considered an integral part of the disclosure. Reference numbers (directed to the drawings) shown in the claims are intended to facilitate the understanding of the claims, and are in no way intended to restrict the scope of the claims to what is shown in the drawings unless the contrary is clearly apparent from the context.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a handbrush comprising a head, a handle connected to the head and bristles projecting from the head, characterized in that the head (12), the handle (16) and the bristles (14) are all moulded as one integral piece from a polymeric compound and in that a rigid strengthening member (18) is embedded in the head (12) and the handle (16) during or after the moulding step.

2. A handbrush comprising a head, a handle connected to the head and a plurality of bristles projecting from the head, characterized in that the head (12), the handle (16) and the bristles (14) are all integrally moulded in one piece from a polymeric compound and in that a rigid strengthening member (18) is embedded in the head and the handle.

3. A handbrush as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the head (12) is elongate in shape, in that the handle (16) extends from one end of the head (12) and in that the strengthening member (18) comprises a spring steel rod which is bent such as to cause the handle (16) to be disposed at an angle to the head (12).

4. A handbrush as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the bristles (14) are circular in cross-­section and in that they are tapered in a direction away from the head (12).

5. A handbrush as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that some bristles (14) are of smaller diameter and others are of larger diameter, and in that all bristles are of substantially the same length.

6. A handbrush as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the thicker bristles (14) are arranged in first rows, in that the thinner bristles (14) are arranged in second rows, and in that the second rows alternate with the first rows.

7. A handbrush as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the thicker bristles (14) of one first row are staggered with respect to the thicker bristles (14) of adjacent first rows, and in that the thinner bristles (14) of adjacent first rows are arranged opposite one another.

8. A handbrush as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a scraper blade (20) for cleaning glass surfaces, the scraper blade (20) being also moulded together with the head (12), bristles (14) and handle (16), as one integral piece, and in that the head (12) is provided with a groove adapted to receive and to hold the back edge of a steel blade (22) suitable for removing ice from a motor vehicle's windscreen.

9. A handbrush as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that it is made of a rubber compound formulated such as to impart to the handbrush (10) upon vulcanisation thereof, a Shore hardness appropriate for use of the handbrush (10) for brushing and washing different parts of a motor vehicle.

10. A handbrush as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the head (12) is provided with a cavity (24) having an inlet opening (26), closure means for closing the inlet opening (26), and passages interconnecting the cavity (24) with the exterior of the head (12) in the region of the bristles (14), so that a suitable liquid or solid washing or waxing aid may be placed in the cavity (24) and applied to an object during washing thereof.

Drawing